GENERAL

This manual provides the Standards, policies, procedures and guidelines for operations by aeroplanes with turbine engines conducted beyond 60 minutes from a point on a route to an en-route alternate aerodrome, and for obtaining EDTO certification and/or EDTO specific approval for:

a) two-engine transport category aeroplanes to operate over a specified route containing a point farther than applicable threshold time at the approved one-engine-inoperative (OEI) cruise speed (under standard conditions in still-air) from an adequate aerodrome. The threshold is a point on the route beyond which the provisions of this manual apply. Specific criteria are included for diversion times of 75, 90, 120, and 180 minutes, and beyond 180 minutes.

The threshold time for such operations has to be established by the State. In doing so, the State should consider that the maximum diversion time capability of two-engine transport category aeroplanes not certified for EDTO is usually limited to 60 minutes. Therefore, the threshold time for such EDTO operations should normally be set at 60 minutes. It is possible to select a greater threshold time value further to a thorough assessment of the impact of such value on non-EDTO operations of non-EDTO certified two-engine transport category aeroplanes;

Note.— Previously issued specific approvals for ETOPS programmes continue to be valid; requests for new EDTO specific approvals or changes to existing programmes will be assessed under the criteria outlined in this manual.

b) transport category aeroplanes with more than two engines to operate over a specified route containing a point farther than applicable threshold time at the approved all-engines-operative (AEO) cruise speed (under standard conditions in still-air) from an adequate aerodrome. The threshold is a point on the route beyond which the provisions of this manual apply.

The threshold time for such operations has to be established by the State. In doing so, the State should consider the specificities, if any, of such operations. Considering that the vast majority of longrange operations over the last 50 years have been conducted within 180 minutes maximum diversion time, and were not subject to any specific criteria, the threshold time for such EDTO operations should normally be set at 180 minutes. It is possible to select another threshold time value further to a thorough assessment of the impact of such value on existing operations and on the time limitations, if any, of transport category aeroplanes with more than two engines operated beyond the threshold time.